As he tries to become the first Republican governor of Maryland to win re-election in 64 years, Larry Hogan is maintaining his celebrated distance from Donald Trump and even questioned whether the president will seek re-election in 2020.

Hogan spoke to Newsmax during a break at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C.

Reminding Hogan that he had publicly refused to endorse his party's nominee for president in 2016 and did not even vote for Trump, Newsmax asked the Free State governor whether he would support Trump for re-election?

"Are you certain he's going to run for re-election?" Hogan shot back with a wink.

Hogan, 61, then pointed out him and the president "have always had good relations" since the election and that Vice President Mike Pence served with him on the NGA while governor of Indiana "and is a longtime friend."

"So when I disagree with the administration, I won't be out protesting," said the governor, underscoring that his disagreements with the administration are often lodged quietly or privately.

In a state in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a hefty margin, Republican Hogan is unusually popular because of his efforts to bring down taxes and fees and his ability to work with Democratic leaders in the legislature. In addition, the governor won hearts nationwide in 2015-16 with his much-publicized battle with cancer.

The most recent Goucher Poll in January showed that among voters statewide, Hogan's approval rating is about 71 percent. The same poll showed him leading the three best-known Democratic hopefuls by double-digit figures. Republicans hope that Hogan can not only win big, but can break the Democratic "super-majority" (two thirds of the seats) that it has held in the state Senate and House of Delegates since the mid-1920s.

"I'd like to see that happen," Hogan told us.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.

As he tries to become the first Republican governor of Maryland to win re-election in 64 years, Larry Hogan is maintaining his celebrated distance from Donald Trump and even questioned whether the president will seek re-election in 2020.Hogan spoke to Newsmax during a break at...